Supreme Court appoints Belleville attorney vice chair of the ARDC

Belleville attorney James Mendillo began his term as vice chairman of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) this week.

The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Mendillo to the post earlier this month. It also named Chicago attorney Joan Eagle chairwoman of the ARDC.

Both appointments took effect Tuesday.

Mendillo, a partner at Freeark, Harvey & Mendillo, and Eagle, an attorney at Klein, Dub & Holleb, have been involved with the commission that prosecutes lawyer misconduct for years, according to a news release from the Supreme Court.

Eagle, who focuses her practice on labor and employment law, previously served as vice chair. She sat on the ARDC’s hearing and inquiry boards for nearly a decade and has been a commissioner since 2008.

Mendillo concentrates his practice on civil litigation, including employment discrimination, insurance, products liability and malpractice matters.

He has been a member of the hearing board for about three years and became an ARDC commissioner in 2010.

"Ms. Eagle and Mr. Mendillo have both served the ARDC with distinction for many years," Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier said in a written statement.

Karmeier, the Supreme Court liaison to the ARDC, added that "Their experiences as Commissioners and as members of the Inquiry and Hearing Boards, tied with their passion for upholding the highest standards of conduct for Illinois attorneys, shall serve them well as chair and vice-chair of the ARDC.”

Mendillo was out of the office this week and could not immediately be reached for comment on his appointment.